HealthLine Newsletter Winter 2004/2005:
The Perinatologist: The Obstetrician's Obstetrician

A high risk pregnancy may call for more than the services of an obstetrician no matter how highly trained he or she may be. That is where a specialist in Perinatology like Dr. David Berck comes in.

Our Perinatologist helps MKMG patients in four ways:

1. Dr. Berck works with the MKMG obstetrician to insure the best planning for high-risk pregnancies.
2. In normal pregnancies being managed by the obstetrician, a specialist like Dr. Berck may be consulted if complications develop.
3. The Perinatologist simply may act as the high-risk patient's main obstetrician.
4. Finally, the Perinatologist also provides advice to a pregnant patient's internist or other physician. For example, if a pregnant patient is taking certain medications, they may have to be changed to ensure the well being of the fetus. Dr. Berck can help select the safest alternative.

What are some of the risks in high-risk pregnancy? Pre-existing conditions could complicate pregnancy. Examples include:

• high blood pressure
• diabetes
• asthma
• certain medications which the mother is taking

Complications directly related to the pregnancy

• high blood pressure specifically caused by the pregnancy
• a woman going into labor before full term
• the sonogram indicates twins or triplets
• difficulties in a previous pregnancy

In short, the maternal fetal medicine specialist is there at the mother's side working to lower the risk of high risk pregnancy.

David Berck, MD
Graduating from Harvard Medical School in 1991, Dr. Berck's residency was at Massachusetts General Hospital from 1991 to 1995. This was followed by a fellowship at Columbia Presbyterian from 1996 to 1998. Dr. Berck practices in our Mount Kisco and Carmel offices.
Mount Kisco: 914-242-1380
Carmel: 845-278-4300